prosper
verbUK /ˈpɹɒspə(ɹ)/ · US /ˈpɹɑspɚ/
Etymology From Old French prosperer, from Latin prosperō (“to render happy”), from prosperus (“prosperous”), from Proto-Italic *prosparos, from Proto-Indo-European *speh₁- (“to succeed”), whence also Latin spēs (“hope, expectation”).
1
To be successful; to succeed; to be fortunate or prosperous; to thrive; to make gain.
- Yet his passion for her had grown fiercer than ever, and he swore to himself that he would win her back from her phantasies. She, one may believe, was ready enough to listen. As she walked with him by the Sker water his words were like musick to her ears, and Alison within doors laughed to herself and saw her devices prosper.1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
2
To grow; to increase.
- And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 39:3:
3
Obsolete To favor; to render successful.
- Prosper thou our handiwork.1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […], →OCLC:
- Greensleeues now farewel adue God I pray to prosper thee: For I am stil thy louer true, come once againe and loue me.1878 [1584], Clement Robinson, “A new Courtly Sonet, of the Lady Greensleeues” (stanza 18), in Edward Arber, editor, A Handful of Pleasant Delights:
2 more examples
- The Gods defenders of the innocent, Will neuer proſper your intended driftes, That thus oppreſſe poore friendles paſſengers.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
- All things concur to prosper our design.1700, [John] Dryden, “Iphis and Ianthe”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC: